§ 30. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state, for the country as a whole, the aggregate number of shifts worked in collieries for the first six months of this year as compared with the first six months of 1925?
§ Colonel LANE FOXParticulars are available only for the first four months of 1927 during which the estimated number of shifts worked in collieries in Great Britain was over 84,000,000. The corresponding number in 1925 was 96,000,000.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONAm I to understand that 12,000,000 fewer shifts were worked in Durham over those four months than in the corresponding period in 1926?
§ Colonel LANE FOXYes, the hon. Member's arithmetic is quite correct.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDoes not that indicate that, although men are working fewer shifts and producing more coal, they are all receiving less in wages under the Eight Hours Act?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is another speech.